Another Week Beyond – 2350

We are partnering Singapore Gymnastics for a Cartwheel-a-thon on 13 January 2024 and on Wednesday, they held a gymnastics class for our children. When the session was over and the kids were having their refreshments, a volunteer asked me what I do. It was a good question for a meaningful conversation and after spontaneously replying that I oversee the day-to-day running of the organisation which includes budgets and such, I became a little more reflective. I told her that nurturing a community workplace where collegaues are safe, inspired, and informed is a task that I prioritise. This is a workplace where people have purpose, competence, success, and are always learning and growing.

So, upholding an organizational structure that enables autonomy and self-managed teams is an ongoing effort because having control over one’s work sustains motivation, job performance, and satisfaction. To do this, the leadership needed is not the management paradigm of efficiency maximization through tight supervision and control. Rather it is one that is rooted in principles such as nonviolence, care, mutual respect, trust, and partnership where narratives grounded in empathy and care emerge.

Early this year, I was introduced to The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves by Shawn A. Ginwright (North Atlantic Books, 2022) which advocates for social change through deep collective healing rather than problem analysis, organizing or scaling. Professor Ginwright contends that “Trust, vision, wholeness, humane relationships, and hope are the tools required for deep change in our work.”

He calls for healing-centred leadership that requires empathy over blame, compassion over complacency, and curiosity over criticism. This call resonates with a community workplace and I would like to share briefly the 4 pivots that leaders must make for healing.

Firstly, pivot to the awareness that we are cause to a situation. Instead of viewing a situation through a lens of analysis, see the situation as a mirror of ourselves and explore how we may contribute to the change we want to see. Then, it is to move from transactional to transformative relationships. We need to stop teaching but to learn vulnerability, empathy, and listening if we are to form deep connections with others.

The third pivot concerns vision and an ability to see possibilities rather than problems. Problem solving keeps us focused on the deficiencies, the gaps and basically what is not working. Perhaps, it was never meant to work anyway, and the people concerned have a better chance of success doing something else. 

Finally, it is showing up each day in a calmer way and pivoting from hustle to flow. We probably would not want to admit it, but we are addicted to our hectic life even if we complain about it. Being busy assures us that we are important, and we matter but this stops us from taking time to reflect about what really is important, take stock, to connect with others and to heal.

These 4 pivots suggest to me that to heal we need space to reflect, to be gentle with ourselves, to care for others and to imagine possibilities that give us life, and these we cannot do if we are busy, mentally occupied, tired, or worn out. Hence to lead, we need to rest, and rest is leadership.

This is our last issue for the year as we will be taking the next 2 weeks to heal and to rest so that we may be in a better place to lead with care, empathy, and compassion in the new year. We will be back in 2024 and we wish you the rest you need to deal with what’s important for you in the New Year.

For peace and community,

Gerard

PAST AWB POSTS

2443 – Why Do You Work?

I was visiting Meelah, a resident who has led food drives and many social activities to enhance the wellbeing of her neighbours.   I listened intently, as she expressed her concern for families that would require assistance. I was   touched that she continued to keep track of so many lives in spite of her own declining health. She donned on the new spectacles she had recently afforded and checked her reflection using her phone before looking at me expectantly for a response. “How? I look like a teacher or not?” She exclaimed while tucking some strands of hair behind her ears.

Read More »

2442 – It Starts with “Hello”

Every morning, like clockwork, four-year-old Lisa (not her real name) stops by her neighbour’s flat on her way to preschool. She stands at the gate, waiting patiently to say “Hello” to the elderly man who lived there. Known for his stern demeanour and habit of scolding noisy children, this Uncle wasn’t someone most would approach. At first, he ignored her. Undeterred, she stands there, day after day, offering her simple greeting. Then one day, something changed. The Uncle returned her greeting. Soon after, they began sharing quiet moments – sitting together, eating biscuits, and watching TV —always under the watchful

Read More »

2441 – Looking for Treasure not Dirt

As a community worker, I knock on doors to introduce myself and to explore how residents may contribute toward the wellbeing of their neighbourhood.  By chatting with them, I discover their talents, aspirations and values. Of course, not everyone talks to me when I knock but it is always so rewarding when they do. Last week, I met 98-year-old Madam Wong and her son who is in his 70s. I learnt that Madam Wong shares her art and craft skills with the older residents in her community.  What she enjoys doing most and is really good at is “weaving” together

Read More »

2440 – Leading the Charge for Change

For years, the residents of a public rental block in Yishun struggled with unsanitary rubbish disposal, bird-feeding, and littering from open windows. As tensions mounted, frustration could have easily divided the community. But instead, a group of proactive volunteers decided to address the issue themselves, determined to improve their living environment—not just for themselves, but for everyone in the neighbourhood. These volunteers initiated a series of conversations with their neighbours where residents openly expressed their frustrations and shared personal stories. “It doesn’t feel good to come home from work after a long day to a living environment that is unhygienic,”

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2439 – The Strength of Community

“One of the marvelous things about community is that it enables us to welcome and help people in a way we couldn’t as individuals.” – Jean Vanier Our work is grounded in an approach known as Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). ABCD is a relationship-driven, strengths-based approach that focuses on identifying and mobilizing often overlooked community assets for sustainable development. During this year’s Youth Appreciation Day, we experienced firsthand the power of Gifts, Relationships, and Care (GRC), core principles of ABCD. GRC reminds us that everyone holds unique gifts — skills, strengths, and lived experiences. When shared within the framework of

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2438 – A Game Changer

A Game Changer Submitted by: Adrian, Community Worker During a community gathering in April, along with the spread of food on the table, a robust serving of soccer talk was served up. This is a topic that energized the youth who were present. Their excitement wasn’t just about the game; they were eager to form a proper soccer team. So enthusiastic were they, that that very evening, the Bukit Ho Swee Soccer programme was born. Our first training session took place at an outdoor court that was well-maintained and ideal for practice, but it was too far away. The commute

Read More »

2437 – A House is not a Home

By Pei Ling, Community Worker What is a home to you? Is it just a place filled with your stuff? Where you store your sofa, TV, bed, clothes?   These are questions we ask ourselves as we walk along the corridors of the small flats in the neighbourhoods we serve. We catch glimpses of everyday life along these corridors – mismatched footwear, potted plants, toys scattered about, and front doors of various colours – some freshly painted, some faded. Inside, some of these flats have varying degrees of stuff, but they most certainly hold more than that. For each is Home

Read More »

2436 – Small Fortune, Big Friends

By Jie Min & Marlina, Community Workers We were in conversation with 9 mothers who dreamed of having their own home-based business to alleviate their financial challenges. 3 of them had already started baking, cooking and catering from home for small events while the rest were just very interested in exploring how they could get started. Hence, we thought that inviting them to manage a booth at Parking Day, an upcoming community event on Saturday, 14 September 2024, would be a good hands-on learning experience especially for those who have never hawked their wares.  There was much excitement and enthusiasm

Read More »

PAST AWB POSTS

2443 – Why Do You Work?

I was visiting Meelah, a resident who has led food drives and many social activities to enhance the wellbeing of her neighbours.   I listened intently, as she expressed her concern for families that would require assistance. I was   touched that she continued to keep track of so many lives in spite of her own declining health. She donned on the new spectacles she had recently afforded and checked her reflection using her phone before looking at me expectantly for a response. “How? I look like a teacher or not?” She exclaimed while tucking some strands of hair behind her ears.

Read more >

2442 – It Starts with “Hello”

Every morning, like clockwork, four-year-old Lisa (not her real name) stops by her neighbour’s flat on her way to preschool. She stands at the gate, waiting patiently to say “Hello” to the elderly man who lived there. Known for his stern demeanour and habit of scolding noisy children, this Uncle wasn’t someone most would approach. At first, he ignored her. Undeterred, she stands there, day after day, offering her simple greeting. Then one day, something changed. The Uncle returned her greeting. Soon after, they began sharing quiet moments – sitting together, eating biscuits, and watching TV —always under the watchful

Read more >

2441 – Looking for Treasure not Dirt

As a community worker, I knock on doors to introduce myself and to explore how residents may contribute toward the wellbeing of their neighbourhood.  By chatting with them, I discover their talents, aspirations and values. Of course, not everyone talks to me when I knock but it is always so rewarding when they do. Last week, I met 98-year-old Madam Wong and her son who is in his 70s. I learnt that Madam Wong shares her art and craft skills with the older residents in her community.  What she enjoys doing most and is really good at is “weaving” together

Read more >